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Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
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Righto, finally found time to re-write what I wrote on monday morning before it got lost via a dropped wifi signal (gonna copy & paste before posting this time!!!! :smt065) Just a thought about the vw camper thing speirs, the vw transporters have a cult following and an intangible value simply because they're vw. Have you looked at any alternative vans which don't neccessarily have the 'cool factor' but would perform in exactly the same way? Mazda bongo: many of them come with pop tops, motorised window blinds and folding rear seats as standard. Obviously the poptops will cost more, but you won't have to worry about all the faff of cleaning/insulating/carpetting and you get the roof to give more standing space from the moment you buy it. Plus there's a big following over on bongofury forums (maviczap has a bongo too so he could be good for advice). http://www.autosfocus.info/images/ma...%20%285%29.jpg Cheaper vehicles to convert could be: a toyota hiace - japanese, similar interior size to vw transporters and don't have that premium cool factor. www.AutoBeds.uk.com (where I got my rock'n'roll bed from) make all their folding beds to order and can adjust them to fit VW's/Merc Vito's/Hiace's and many other vans or people carriers. Obviously you'd still have the cost of insulating and carpetting but the intial van purchase cost would bring the overall project price down maybe? http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecac...20%2814%29.jpg Maybe a renault master ex-works van, more space in the back but again, even less x-factor http://www.mw-van-leasing.co.uk/images/traffic.jpg If you've got space to park the van when not in use, you could go for a longer wheelbase version like our works renault master traffic.. You could even build in a dedicated partitioned area towards the back for 1-2 bikes and space for tools/bits like a proper race van. Bang your full sized double bed ontop of the bike garage area and then in the remaining space there's room for cooker & sink unit, seating and enough headroom to stand/get changed without crouching.. http://regalcarrental.co.uk/ESW/Imag...-27_460x0w.jpg Example of what you could do if you went bonkers (front half of cargo area): http://www.convertyourvan.co.uk/sprinter1.jpg rear half of cargo area: http://www.convertyourvan.co.uk/sprinter3.jpg If you're not specifically looking to get into the 'vw scene' with all it's associated festivals/trade shows/rallies etc. then you could save yourself a LOT of money by going for a similar sized van from another manufacturer. Likewise if you don't mind driving a bigger 'works style' van then you can get a bigger living area for the same money as you'd pay for a vw camper. Just a few thoughts for you. Oh and btw you don't have to get the latest and greatest folding r'n'r bed, many people make their own folding efforts out of timber & plywood for a fraction of the cost of a proper metal thing. Likewise with the cupboards/furniture you don't have to buy dedicated camping stuff, we've used the cheapest ikea kitchen units we could get for ours with a view to personalising them with some subtle graphics in line with our colour scheme.. Anywho, that was for the benefit of mr speirs and anyone else who's interested - mods if you feel this would be better off in it's own thread or in my camper thread, feel free to merge this and pop a post in letting us know where it has migrated to :salut: |
Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
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Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
cheapest way to convert a van is to get a caravan with a rotten floor or wall. you then get everything you need for the conversion including: cooker, fridge, sink, charging/wiring, hot water boiler, proper light weight (hollow) cupboards, folding beds, tables, seating and windows. decent but burgerd c,vans can be had for very little money and usually come with lots and lots of extras including awnings and water bottles etc. etc.
this is also the perfect time of year to grab a bargain. |
Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
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Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
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Freetop Bongos tend to hold their price, but don't spend over £5k on the pre facelift model. The facelift models go for more. You could buy a tintop Bongo and convert it, as they go for peanuts. But I prefer the Freetop model as you just raise the roof for your sleeping quarters. Plenty of advice on the Bongo Fury forum. Best thing about Bongo's is that the engines will run on almost anything, easy to convert to run on old chip shop oil and veg oil. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...0/DSCF0593.JPG https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O...0/DSCF0595.JPG |
Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
Or you could go for my 3 minute conversion approach, unroll thermarest, bit of ply on a back seat for putting the cooker on. Job jobbed, none of this soft furnishing fandango!
http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/19...600x600Q85.jpg |
Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
Eyup guys,
took the bike out for it's maiden ride on saturday.. Absolutely sublime. Didn't care that I got caught in the rain, or that the roads were greasy as hell, or that I had a bit of a wobble/slide moment from the back wheel during a steady overtake (5th gear)... I loved every second of it including the freezing cold wind blast, the aching wrists and the sore neck. The engine is fantastic, the handling is brilliant, the sound and thrill is pure excitement and the whole thing looks immense. The brakes could be a tiny bit sharper but that leaves room for my man gene to flex its muscle and fit some brake pads/swap brake fluid (and if they're still crap find another brembo m/c, maybe braided lines or just new rubber ones to keep the precise feel). Thank you suzuki: http://distilleryimage1.s3.amazonaws...38142014_7.jpg |
Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
you still expecting me sunday?
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Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
you not got pics of yard yet? Thought you were being a bit ignorant as usual?
Edit: also, thought it was saturday? Either way :) |
Re: I'm getting back on 2 wheels!
Yeah its Saturday sorry not Sunday.
Nope just thought you were been as slack as usual and hadnt sent them on... touche! Recieved them now though squire, is that a wall to next doors garden or is it an extension/conservatory effort? What are you wanting done over all? Are you aware of how dog 5hit a concrete slab would look or is aesthetics not an issue? |
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